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3000 km Horse Ride from Russia to Mongolia

11 March 2020

Фото: Болота Бочкарева, http://yakutiaphoto.com/?p=876

In Yakutia, on May 9th, starts the longest horse trekking - from Yakutsk to Ulan Bator. It is organized by the Branch of the Russian Geographical Society in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) with the assistance of the Government of the Republic and the Federation of the Equestrian Sport of Yakutia. The event is dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and will be held from May 9th to June 20th.

The trekking participants will pass through the territory of Yakutia and the Amur Region, along the Transbaikal Krai, and the Mongolian People's Republic. The total length of the route is 3122 km. The horses will move along the highways.

“At present, when attempts are made to distort history, our duty is to protect the memory of the deed of our ancestors and defend the objective picture of the Second World War. The Yakutsk - Ulan Bator equestrian crossing is unique in its route length, extremeness, and the speed of the planned movement. It can serve as one of the brightest events of the year of the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War," said one of the organizers of the trekking, a member of the Russian Geographical Society, Yegor Borisov.

The trip will be attended by 8 people, including journalists, veterinarians, employees of educational institutions, and other specialists. The travelers will live in field conditions. The trekking program includes lectures, visiting the sights of the regions, getting acquainted with the culture and history of Mongolia.

The organizers also note that the event is aimed at attracting attention to one of the most hardy breeds in the world - the Yakutian horse.

“In past centuries, it was widely used in horse-drawn vehicles. As evidenced by the fact that about 500 thousand head were used only for the development of the Far East. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Yakut people could not survive in the extreme conditions of the Far North without a horse. It was its high-quality meat, koumiss, and stamina that saved the people from starvation and cold death. Unfortunately, nowadays, the prestige of a horse is dropping, they look at it only as a source of tasty, nutritious meat," say the organizers of the event.

The start of the horse crossing is scheduled for May 9th in Yakutsk, from the racetrack of the Yakutsk State Agricultural Academy. The trekking ends on June 20th in Ulan Bator. Travel time will be approximately 40 days; the average speed is 90-110 km per day.

Trekking on Yakut horses had been done previously. In 2019, a trekking of more than 500 km was made in 5 days through Zarechye. Thus, the Yakut horses with riders covered more than 100 km per day. In addition, in 2018 there was a trekking in Verkhoyanie, about 200 km.

Trekking organizers: the Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Federation of the Equestrian Sport of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Branch of the Russian Geographical Society in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in the Far Eastern Federal District, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) , the Ministry of External Relations and Federal Relations of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Yakutsk State Agricultural Academy, the National Broadcasting Company "Sakha", the State Veterinary Administration of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).